SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Juan Pablo Cruz (Watsonville, Calif./Sheldon HS) from the Cosumnes River men’s soccer team has been named CRC’s Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of September 1-7.

Cruz helped lead the Hawks to three victories in a week, as well as one draw, as CRC stayed undefeated in play this past week.  The 5’9” midfielder from Watsonville has appeared in all six matches for the Hawks this season, leading them to a 3-0-3 overall record.  He has continued to lead by example, and his coaches were very pleased with his performance on this stretch of the season.

“(Cruz) drove the team from the midfield position,” said head coach Ron Preble of his freshman midfielder.  “He’s our most consistent player in our possession phase, and brought attacking players into the game.”  Preble was also especially pleased with Cruz’s performance in the team’s match against Shasta, which finished in a 0-0 draw.  “For us this weekend, his play kind of drove the team… drove the offense,” remarked Preble of Cruz’s performance during the team’s tournament this past weekend.  “He drove our defensive effort… he was the guy.”

Assistant coach Brandon Evangelista was also pleased with the play of Cruz, calling the midfielder a “silent but deadly” kind of player, and says “he does his talking with his play.”  “No matter what is going on in a game, (Cruz is) one of the most positive guys on and off the field,” said Evangelista of Cruz.

This is Juan Pablo Cruz’s first CRC Student-Athlete of the Week honor, as well as the first for the men's soccer team.  CRC returns to play next week on the road at Hartnell, and concludes the week with a pair of matches in southern California.  The Hawks return home on September 24, when they host their Big 8 conference opener against Santa Rosa JC.

Also nominated were Megan Gomez (women's soccer) and Nancy Pacheco (volleyball).